Divided We Fall (15 page)

Walker nodded, keeping his eyes on Brooks. “You’ve got five
minutes then we do this my way.” Walker took a step back and walked to the
cargo area. He turned around, still shooting Brooks a steely glare.

“You made a new friend,” Brad whispered.

“Everywhere I go,” Brooks responded, holding his glare on Walker.

Cloud looked to the other guards and pointed to the rear. “You two
as well; give us some space,” he ordered. The guards shuffled to the back with
Walker, standing at the ready and surrounded by the passengers of the aircraft.
When Cloud was sure they were out of earshot, he leaned in. Brooks still had
his back turned to the group, keeping his eye on Walker.

“We’ve got a problem,” Cloud whispered.

Brad looked back. “What do you mean ‘
we’
?”

Turner casually walked to the side and leaned against an empty
seat back; he stretched then looked at Brad. “Seems those contractors think we
are here to do a prisoner exchange. Us for some little girl?”

“What?” Brad exclaimed. “Ella?”

Cloud swallowed hard. “Yes, she is an immunity carrier for the
virus; she may be a—”

“Old news, sir,” Brooks said without looking back.

Cloud nodded. “Right; my boss is in command of the CNRT, a general
officer—General Reynolds—one of the last remaining figureheads for the Federal
Military, or at least
he
believes so.”

“Never heard of him,” Brad said.

“I wouldn’t expect you to; he wasn’t in a high position when
things started. After the evacuation of Washington and as people abandoned the
Mountain, high-level officials returned to their home districts; many took
sides with other factions and abandoned the idea of the CNRT. Well, that left
Reynolds holding the reins. Frankly, the general still has a vision of a
central government and refuses to acknowledge installations like this and
others located across North America.”

“What does any of this have to do with us?” Brooks asked.

Cloud sighed. “The general sent me to collect the remains of your
unit, and then make an exchange for the girl. At the time, she was the key to
developing a vaccine to prevent further spread of the infection.”

“At the time?” Brad asked.

“Yes, things changed. While I was away, the Mountain lab had a
breakthrough with Aziz. They have developed something. The general wants the
girl removed now, so that only he controls the vaccine.”

“So he did all of this, the attack on Savannah, just to kill Ella?
Why?” Brad asked.

“Power,” Brooks said, still facing the men at the back.

Cloud clenched his jaw and nodded. “Yes, in the simplest of terms,
if the CNRT has the sole cure, he thinks they could use it to reunite the
factions.”

Brad looked at Cloud. “And you think we will give you Ella so you
can kill her and have a monopoly on the cure?”

“No,” Cloud said.

Turner stood. “He’s flipped, Brad. Cloud is with us now,” he said.
Turner cautiously pulled up the front of his jacket, revealing the pistol grip
of an M9. “Don’t look… Mendez has one too, and the colonel. We’ve taken the
aircraft; the pilots and crew are restrained. Boys back there just don’t know
it yet.”

Brooks let out an exaggerated chuckle. “Oh boy. So how is this
going to work? We’ve got a cargo bay full of civilians and between them and us,
a highly trained crew of assholes.”

“Easy… In about two minutes, Walker is going to see us up here
bullshitting. In his typical fashion, he will lose his temper and storm to the
front and attempt to take charge.”

“Then?” Brad asked.

Turner spoke, shifting his position so that he was now just beside
Brooks. “We take him and hold him hostage. Mendez will drop the ramp and
evacuate the passengers to the field. That will just leave us in a bit of a
standoff with Walker.”

“They cannot be allowed to leave here, not ’til they pay for
Gunner’s and Parker’s deaths,” Brooks said.

“They won’t,” Cloud said.

Brooks looked over his shoulder at Cloud. “You’re not off the hook
either.”

“Understood.” Cloud looked down at his shoulder holster. “I have a
weapon. When it happens, take it from me; it’s locked and cocked.”

Brooks shook his head and lifted the back of his shirt; the
H&K MK23 was at the center of his back. “Got my own,” Brooks said.

Brad rubbed the belt over his back pocket. “I’m good. Let’s do
this.”

Brooks shook his head at Walker mockingly, and then turned around
to face Cloud. He threw up his hands in a frustrated gesture and stepped to the
aircraft’s door. Walker shouted from the back, “Hey, where do you think you’re
going?”

Brooks froze and turned back at the contractor who was now
charging forward, flanked by two more of the men in black. “This is pointless;
I won’t be a part of it.” Brooks said. Brad looked at Brooks with honest
surprise, not understanding what Brooks was doing and feeling left out of the
plan.

Walker stepped in fast and close; he reached up and grabbed the
front of Brooks’ shirt, pulling him in. “You ain’t going anywhere,” Walker
yelled with spittle hitting Brooks in the face. Brooks brought up his right arm
between their bodies. His hand gripped the MK23, and he pressed the tip of the
barrel into the meaty portion of the man’s chin. Brad caught himself up on
Brooks’ organized chaos; he drew the Sigma pistol at the same time as the
second contractor leveled his own weapon at Brooks. Turner quickly moved,
stepping behind Cloud and placing his own M9 against the colonel’s temple.

Civilians in the back began to scream and huddle. The remaining
contractors in black moved forward and raised their weapons at the new threats.

Cloud put his hands in the air, going along with the ruse of being
a hostage. “Okay, everyone just calm down. I’m sure we can still make a deal;
lower your weapons!” he shouted at the contractors.

The contractors backed away, weapons still raised. Walker
stiffened as Brooks pushed the barrel hard into the man’s chin, forcing his
head to go back and look up at the ceiling. Brooks’ left arm hooked Walker’s
collar and in a smooth motion, he spun Walker around, the pistol now pressed
against the base of his skull. “If you want to live, get your men to stand
down,” Brooks said.

Walker hesitated, fighting the barrel. Brooks shifted his weight
and forced the weapon tighter against the man’s skull, causing his legs to bend
from the pain. Brooks tightened his grip with his left arm. “Your call, Walker;
I can end this for you right now,” Brooks said. “You’ll have nothing left to
worry about; I can make all your problems gone with the pull of a trigger.”

“Okay, dammit; lower your weapons!” Walker ordered.

The contractors stepped back, lowering their barrels to the deck.
Brooks didn’t waste any time. “Turner, get your man to drop the ramp, and get
these people off.”

Turner shouted, “Mendez, go; get ’em out of here.”

Mendez turned away from the others and ran along a wall of the
fuselage, pushing his way through the civilians. Mendez worked the controls;
the ramp unlocked and slowly began to drop. As the seal was broken, light and
fresh air spilled into the cargo bay. Civilians, crowded in a cluster, started
pushing to the back to escape. The ramp hit the asphalt and the refugees poured
out onto the airfield. Military police from the base moved in, raising their
M4s and shouting orders for the contractors to drop their guns.

The base MPs continued moving up from the rear of the aircraft,
not knowing friend from foe, keeping their weapons trained on all of them. Brad
watched as the men in black slowly placed their weapons on the deck and raised
their hands in surrender. The MPs turned their attention to Brad. Brad watched
as Turner slowly placed his pistol on an aircraft seat in the row next to him. He
released the colonel and put his hands in the air. Brad did the same and looked
at Brooks; the man’s pistol was still firmly pressed into Walker’s skull.

“Brooks, what are you doing?” Brad asked.

Brooks ignored his question. “What do you say, Walker? You want to
end this now?”

Walker put his hands up, his knees going weak, head moving forward
away from the pressure of the barrel.

The two soldiers at the bottom of the ladder charged in, calling
off the guards at the back. One took up a position next to Brad. “What the hell
is going on in here?” Corporal Smith said to Brad.

“Corporal, I am Lieutenant Colonel Cloud; I have some very
important information for Colonel Ericson,” Cloud paused and put a hand on
Brooks’ shoulder. “Have these men detained. Brooks, you can hand over the
prisoner now.”

Chapter 23

Brad walked into the room. It was painted bright white, had
carpeted floors, and chairs that ran along the walls. A table in the center
held jugs of water and boxes of food. After the takedown at the aircraft, he
was taken away and separated from the others. The civilians and his men from
the compound were moved away as a group, while Brooks and Brad were taken away
in a van then separated at the entrance of a building located just inside the
cleared sectors.

He was allowed to shower and change into a fresh uniform before
being led to this room to await instructions. Even though he was going on
nearly twenty-four hours without sleep, the cleanliness made him feel
refreshed. Brad walked across the carpeted room, lifted a gallon jug of water,
and popped the top. He guzzled down a quarter of it then found a seat by the
window. He took the jug with him and sat back, relaxing.

The door opened and Brooks walked in. He stopped, looked smugly at
Brad, and said, “You too, huh?”

Brad shrugged and took another drink.

“Well, that makes me feel better; thought maybe I was in
lockdown,” Brooks said. He moved to the center table and dug through the food
box, finding a protein bar. Instead of moving to the chairs, he plopped down on
one of the tables and took a bite of the bar before lying back.

“So what’s next?” Brad asked.

The door opened before Brooks could answer; the second lieutenant from
the colonel’s tent walked in with another soldier behind her. “Sergeant
Thompson, Petty Officer Brooks,” she said.

Brad sat up in his chair; Brooks did not move, remaining flat on
the table chewing his protein bar with his eyes closed.

“I’m Lieutenant Speirs, aide to Colonel Ericson; sorry about
before. I hope the showers and uniforms were to your standards. I was hoping to
let you get some sleep before the colonel sent for you.”

Brad took another sip off the jug and returned the cap before
standing. “The colonel wants to see us?” Brad asked.

She nodded. “Yes. If you could follow me, the briefing room is
just down the hall.”

Speirs stepped into the hallway, leaving the door open. Brad pushed
up to his feet and stepped across the room in front of Brooks. Reaching down,
he offered a hand and pulled the man back to his feet.

“Long day, aye?” Brad said.

“Had longer,” Brooks said before yawning. “Let’s get this over
with.”

Brad walked just behind Brooks, following Speirs and the MPs down
a long, dark hallway. At the end, they were turned, led up a column of stairs
to the top floor, and then directly across the hall. Speirs paused outside the
door, knocking until she received instructions to enter. She grabbed the knob
and pulled the door out into the hallway before ushering them in. Brooks
entered the room first, with Brad following close behind. Brad spotted Sean
standing at the front next to Cloud and Ericson. Chelsea, Shane, and Villegas
were seated in leather chairs around a long, dark, wooden conference table. More
men in faded battle dress uniforms—officers and senior enlisted men who Brad
had never seen before—were at the far end of the table, hovering over a map.

Brad ignored the others and moved directly to Chelsea; she stood
and greeted him with a hug. Joey Villegas rose quickly, reached across, and
slapped him on the back. Shane stood and stuck out his hand. “Ella?” Brad
asked, returning Shane’s handshake.

Chelsea smiled. “She’s fine; sleeping just down the hall. They
have guards on her.” Chelsea dropped back into her leather chair next to Shane.
Brad stepped back, putting a hand on her shoulder. “I’m so happy to see you’re
safe… all of you,” he said.

“Sergeant Thompson,” Speirs called from the front of the room. Preoccupied
with seeing his friends again, Brad hadn’t even watched her enter. He noticed
the rest of the members of the room were either seated quietly or standing at
the sides of the room. Brad let his hand drop to his side and moved along the
table, finding an empty seat next to Joey.

Lieutenant Speirs walked to a long whiteboard and pulled down a
detailed overlay map of North America. Joey leaned next to Brad’s ear and
whispered, “Why we here, bro? All seems a bit above our pay grade.”

Brad shrugged and turned his attention to the front of the room. Speirs
finished pulling down the map then turned to Colonel Ericson and said, “Sir.”

Ericson nodded and took a sip from a Styrofoam cup he was holding.
He walked to the map, set his cup on a wooden podium, and then stopped and
looked to the uniformed men at the end of the table. “Gentlemen, I know it’s
been a long twenty-four hours for all of us, but we’ve received some critical
intelligence that needs to be acted on right away.

“I hate sending you back into the fray with so little downtime,
but I am sure you will all understand why and be able to relay this urgency to
your troopers.” Ericson pointed across the room. “This is Lieutenant Colonel
James Cloud, formerly of the Pentagon’s ground intelligence division, now a
member of the Joint Chiefs’ Combined National Response Team. Cloud is probably
one of the few people on the planet who actually knows what is going on.

“Now, we have been out of pocket and ignored down here in Georgia
while trying to rebuild, rescue, and recover as much of the population as
possible, but we could only deal with things in our reach. Outside of some
shaky radio comms and scattered reception, we’ve been blind to the world
outside of this outpost.

“I know it’s felt like we’ve been alone, that nothing is left
since Washington fell. Well, the colonel has convinced me otherwise; there is
more left and there is still a mission for us… an important one.” Ericson
turned and called Cloud to the front.

Cloud nodded and moved along the sides of the room, stopping just
in front of the map. “I won’t bore you all with too many details, but I do feel
some background information is necessary. This past summer, a terrorist group
known as the Sons of Bin Laden carried out a complex and well-coordinated
biological strike. Even though under close observation, they were able to make
simultaneous global strikes. As far as we know, there was not a spot on the
globe left uninfected by the Primal Virus. And yes, despite our best efforts at
containment, they were successful, far more than even they expected to be, and
as far as we can determine, many of their own forces were also devoured in the
collapse.

“Fast forward thirty days later, ninety percent of the world’s
population is on the run or living behind walls. Washington fell; the United
States is in chaos. Martial law is stepped up. After the evacuation of D.C.,
the Coordinated National Response Team was formed. Federal military assets,
along with leadership from the remaining members of congress, were moved to a
bunker complex in Colorado. The CNRT oversaw and provided guidance and
resources to help mass population centers.

“I assure you it was a good plan with the best of intentions, but
as population centers dwindled so did hope. Many of our soldiers deserted,
returning to their families. Members of congress left their posts, moving back
to their districts or seeking leadership positions within the remaining governing
factions.”

A soldier at the end of the table spoke, “Factions?”

Cloud paused and turned to the map. He dropped the colored
overlays one at a time. The first transparent page colored Michigan, Ohio, and
much of central and northern Wisconsin in blue. “The Midwest Alliance.” He
pulled another that cast the mountainous areas of Colorado in yellow. “The
Greater Colorado Nations.” The last overlay coated Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico,
and Arizona in red. “The United States of Texas.”

“This is what’s left. Anything outside of these shaded areas,
including this outpost, was considered off the grid and no support was provided
to them. It was the CNRT’s version of performing an amputation to save the body…
conserving resources to protect the greater good.”

“I take it this didn’t go over well?” the soldier asked.

Cloud nodded. “No, it didn’t. It led to desertions and even a US
Navy fleet refusing to return to port when we told them Norfolk was lost and
ordered them to report to Texas.”

Ericson moved back to the front of the room. “Let’s move it along
a bit.”

Cloud nodded. “With the help of Chief Rogers and his men, we were
able to recover vital information to the spread and inoculation of the Primal
Virus—we took a prisoner; a patient who had the key to unlocking the virus in
his bloodstream. It took us some time, but I recently received word that a cure
and the process to make an anti-virus are available. The CNRT has that
information; I can get it for you. This outpost has the means and resources to recover
the vaccine and deliver it to the factions.”

“If we have it, why isn’t it being delivered?” the soldier asked.

“CNRT leadership, primarily General Reynolds, is hoping to retain
information on the vaccine and use it as a form of currency to pull the
factions back under central leadership. He doesn’t want the cure getting out;
that is why he attacked Savannah.”

“What?” the soldier asked, others at the end of the table sounding
off along with him.

Colonel Ericson moved back to the front. “We have solid
intelligence that the men who ambushed the patrols on the roads and compromised
out perimeter were with the CNRT. They had a mission to take out the young girl
down the hall. Like the patient the CNRT is holding in the Mountain, the girl’s
blood holds a key to making a vaccine. Rather than allowing us to develop that
cure, General Reynolds chose to destroy it.”

“I lost a lot of good men yesterday, sir,” the soldier said. “What
do we plan to do about it?”

Cloud stepped toward the table. “I can get you inside the Mountain.
I can get you the cure… and I can get you the scientist and medical staff
needed to replicate it. There are still laboratories and facilities in Texas
that we can use—Fort Sam Houston is still up and running. I assure you, we can
get this done.”

Ericson put up a hand and moved back to the front to stand beside
Cloud.

“Gentlemen, I plan to take out the Mountain and do just that.
Brief your men and get them loaded out. Every MH60 Kilo we have on hand is
being fueled and ready for this operation. Rangers… get your men fitted for
battle; there will be another briefing at 19:00. Prepare your questions. You
are dismissed.”

The men around the table quickly jumped to their feet, the
officers rushing to the front of the room, crowding around Cloud and Ericson to
ask questions. Ericson walked them to the door and ushered them into the
hallway. Brad and the others got to their feet, looking confused and trying to
find their own place in the coming mission. Chief moved across the room and
stopped at the table.

“Chief—” Brad said.

“Just stand by after the others leave the room,” Sean said,
walking away.

Chelsea looked at Brad. “Did you know any of this?”

“Just bits and pieces; I mean, it’s not all new information,
right?”

“No, I guess not,” Chelsea said. “They don’t expect us to go to
this bunker and to Texas, do they?”

“I don’t know,” Brad said.

Ericson closed the door, the room once again growing quiet with
less people in the audience. He moved directly to the table and stood near Brad
and the others.

“You’ve probably guessed it, but there is more,” Erickson said. “I
wasn’t thrilled with having a hundred Afghan nationals dropped on my doorstep
this afternoon.”

“Sir, I can expla—”

“Don’t worry; it’s not important. I’ve already spoken to Sergeant
First Class Turner; your people will be cared for.”

Chelsea leaned across the table. “Sir, are we going to Texas?” she
asked.

Ericson looked back at her and shook his head. “No, but you can’t
stay here, either. I am closing Savannah. All that will be staying behind is a
small contingent to perform rescue and recovery operations; everyone else is
being pulled back once I contact Sam Houston.”

“Then what about us?” Chelsea asked.

“You, along with the girl and the refugees, will be moved. I have
three Chinook helicopters at your disposal. The first trip will deliver you and
your men; you’ll need to secure the site and once it’s safe, we can deliver the
rest of the civilians.”

“What site?” Brad asked.

Ericson pointed his hand at Cloud. “This was your part of the
bargain, you sell it.”

“Sell what?” Brad said.

Cloud cleared his throat and leaned over the table. “In exchange
for my help taking down the general and recovering the vaccine, I asked for a
favor.”

“And,” Brad asked.

“I want you and your people to relocate to my family’s property in
West Virginia. I know it sounds insane, but the place is well equipped. It’s high
in the hills, up steep ground, and on a lake. There used to be a mining camp in
the area, so there is plenty of room for everyone from your compound. We know
the Primals are thin in the area; it will be safe there.”